Personal Info
Known For
Directing
Born
September 22, 1946 (age 79)
Place of Birth
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Also Known As
Wu Yu-Sheng
Wu Yu-Shen
Wu Yao-Shen
John Y. S. Woo
John Y. Woo
John Woo
Biography
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS (born September 22, 1946) is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard Boiled and Red Cliff. His Hollywood films include Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2. He also created the comic series Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. Woo was described by Dave Kehr in The Observer in 2002 as "arguably the most influential director making movies today". Woo cites his three favorite films as David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, and Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Samouraï.
Known For
TV
Golden Horse Awards
Self
1962
Film
Once a Thief
Stanley Wu
1991
TV
Voice
2012
Film
Hard Boiled
Mr. Woo
1992
TV
Be My Guest
2006
TV
Celebrity Talk Show
吴宇森
1989
Film
A Better Tomorrow
Inspector Wu
1986
Film
Twin Dragons
Priest
1992
Film
The Founding of a Republic
Liu Wenhui
2009
Film
The Founding of a Republic
National Army Officers
2009
Film
Bullet in the Head
Policeman
1990
Film
Hand of Death
Zhang Yi
1976
Film
The Banquet
Man on Stairs
1991
Film
Beginning of the Great Revival
Lin Sen
2011
TV
Bokura no Jidai
2007
Film
The Thirty Million Dollar Rush
Ling's Husband
1987
Film
The Young Dragons
Message Deliverer
1974
Film
I Love Maria
1988
Film
Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu
Self
2003
Film
Rebel from China
Kwong
1990
Filmography
2022FilmThe King of Wuxia Part 2as Self2022FilmThe King of Wuxia Part 1as Self2022TV大侠胡金铨as self2021FilmLife in 24 Frames a Secondas Self2017FilmJohn Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywoodas Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)2016FilmKen Sanas Self2012TVVoice2011FilmBeginning of the Great Revivalas Lin Sen2011FilmKurosawa's Wayas Self2009FilmThe Founding of a Republicas Liu Wenhui2009FilmHow Bruce Lee Changed the Worldas Self2008FilmTeam-Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki2007FilmThe Making of Hard Boiled2007FilmThe Making of Stranglehold2007TVBokura no Jidai2006TVBe My Guest2005FilmA Century of Light and Shadowas Self2004FilmCrossings: John Wooas Self2003FilmChop Socky: Cinema Hong Kongas Self2003FilmThe Master: Chang Cheh Documentary2003FilmThe Life and Times of Wu Zhong Xianas As himself2003FilmCinema Hong Kong: Wu Xiaas Self2003FilmCinema Hong Kong: Kung Fuas Self2002FilmThe Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Moviesas Self - Interviewee2001FilmMission: Improbableas John Woo1999FilmKurosawa: The Last Emperoras Self1998FilmYang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinemaas Self1997FilmTask Forceas Police Chief1994FilmCinema of Vengeanceas Self (uncredited)1993FilmFilm ohne Fesseln - Das neue Hongkong Kinoas Self1992FilmHard Boiledas Mr. Woo1992FilmTwin Dragonsas Priest1991FilmThe Banquetas Man on Stairs1991FilmOnce a Thiefas Stanley Wu1990FilmRebel from Chinaas Kwong1990FilmBullet in the Headas Policeman1989FilmSunset in Parisas Maggie's uncle1989TVCelebrity Talk Showas 吴宇森1988FilmStarry Is the Nightas Father Fan1988FilmI Love Maria1987FilmThe Thirty Million Dollar Rushas Ling's Husband1986FilmA Better Tomorrowas Inspector Wu1985FilmLove, Lone Flower1985FilmHappy Union 21982FilmPlain Jane to the Rescueas Self1980FilmFrom Riches to Ragsas [cameo]1979FilmItchy Fingersas Triad Boss on Lorry1978FilmFollow the Staras Miss Chen's Father1976FilmHand of Deathas Zhang Yi1974FilmYoung Lovers on Flying Wheelsas Man at Bike Reclaim Centre1974FilmThe Young Dragonsas Message Deliverer1973FilmThe Mandarin1969FilmDead Knotas Boy1968FilmAccidentallyas Young Man1962TVGolden Horse Awardsas Self